thunder Meaning & Definition
What Does Thunder Mean?
As a noun, thunder means The loud rumbling, cracking, or crashing sound caused by expansion of rapidly heated air around a lightning bolt. It can also mean A deep, rumbling noise resembling thunder. As a verb, it means To produce thunder; to sound, rattle, or roar, as a discharge of atmospheric electricity. As a verb, it means To produce thunder; to sound, rattle, or roar, as a discharge of atmospheric electricity; often used impersonally.
Word Facts for Thunder
| Part of speech | noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈθʌndə/ |
| Synonyms | boom, roar and roaring |
| Plural | thunders |
| Verb forms | thunders, thundering, thundered |
Thunder Definition (Noun)
- The loud rumbling, cracking, or crashing sound caused by expansion of rapidly heated air around a lightning bolt.
Thunder is preceded by lightning.
- A deep, rumbling noise resembling thunder.
Off in the distance, he heard the thunder of hoofbeats, signalling a stampede.
- An alarming or startling threat or denunciation.
- The discharge of electricity; a thunderbolt.
- Synonym of thunder word.
Thunder as a Verb
- To produce thunder; to sound, rattle, or roar, as a discharge of atmospheric electricity.
It thundered continuously.
- To make a noise like thunder.
The train thundered along the tracks.
- To (make something) move very fast (with loud noise).
- To say (something) with a loud, threatening voice.
"Get back to work at once!", he thundered.
- To produce something with incredible power.
Noun
- The spotlight.
Shortly after I announced my pregnancy, he stole my thunder with his news of landing his dream job.
Verb
- To produce thunder; to sound, rattle, or roar, as a discharge of atmospheric electricity; often used impersonally.
It thundered continuously.
- To talk with a loud, threatening voice.
Synonyms of Thunder
Thunder synonyms and antonyms →Thunder in a Sentence
Thunder is preceded by lightning.
Thunder cracked overhead.
Off in the distance, he heard the thunder of hoofbeats, signalling a stampede.
It thundered continuously.
The train thundered along the tracks.
"Get back to work at once!", he thundered.
Shortly after I announced my pregnancy, he stole my thunder with his news of landing his dream job.
Word Forms & Grammar
thunder (countable and uncountable, plural thunders)
thunder (third-person singular simple present thunders, present participle thundering, simple past and past participle thundered)
Words That Rhyme With Thunder
Origin of Thunder
Origin 1: From Middle English thonder, thunder, from Old English þunor (“thunder”), from Proto-West Germanic *þunr, from Proto-Germanic *þunraz, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ten-, *(s)tenh₂- (“to thunder”).
Origin 2: Compare astound, astonish, stun. Germanic cognates include West Frisian tonger, Dutch donder, German Donner, Old Norse Þórr (English Thor), Danish torden, Norwegian Nynorsk tore. Other cognates include Persian تندر (tondar), Latin tonō, detonō, Ancient Greek στένω (sténō), στενάζω (stenázō), στόνος (stónos), Στέντωρ (Sténtōr), Irish torann, Welsh taran, Gaulish Taranis. Doublet of donner, Thunor, and Thor.
Origin 3: From Middle English thondren, from Old English þunrian (“to thunder”), from Proto-West Germanic *þunrōn, from Proto-Germanic *þunrōną (“to thunder”).
Questions People Ask About Thunder
Is thunder a noun or a verb?
Thunder is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is another word for thunder?
Words with a similar meaning to thunder include boom, roar and roaring. See the full list of thunder synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of thunder?
The plural of thunder is thunders.
What is the past tense of thunder?
The past tense of thunder is thundered. The present participle is thundering.
More About Thunder On Meaning Stash
More Words Starting With “Thun”
- thunderburst
- thunderclap
- thunderclaps
- thundered
- thunderer
- thundergust
- thunderhead
- thundering
- thunderlight
- thunderous